Hi guys, some of you may recall that I asked some questions about the Versa Pack a couple of weeks ago... well I finally got it today. (I will whine about how long the transaction took later!)
I was asked to report some observations when I got it, so here goes:
First impressions: Versa Pack with the .22 barrel is a very nice looking little thing. Wood stock (straight, no pistol grip) and forend look good. It is a bit heavy with the .22 bbl on. I don't have a way to weigh anything, but it seems heavier than the NEF Youth Sportster... which of course has the lighter synth stock anyway.
The barrels fit each other's receivers (I like the look of the straight wood stock with the Sportster's barrel and scope!). With the Sportster barrel on however, the VP's firing pin hits right in the center of a .22 case - I tried it with a couple of fired cases just to see.
The hole of the .22 barrel is offset down in the breech (see pics) so the firing pin will work on both centerfire and rimfire barrels.
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=527http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=528The first one shows the offset from the breech end, and the second one shows how the .22 barrel seems to be pressed (?) into what appears to be a larger breech. This of course makes for an odd shaped barrel just in front of the breech, and look at this next pic
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=528and you will see how some of that is filled up with a plastic fitting that holds the rear sight.
Underneath the appearance doesn't matter so much because the forend hides it. By the way, both forends (Versa Pack or Sportster) fit each barrel. I didn't change the buttstocks because I couldn't be bothered right now, but I'm willing to bet they interchange too!
Just out of curiosity I tried a 30/30 barrel from a '60s model H&R Topper on the Versa Pack frame. It would not close and lock up. The .22 barrel from the VP went on the Topper frame, but there was a visible gap between the breech and the rear of the frame. Tomorrow will try a more modern NEF 30/30 barrel, but don't have one available at the moment.
The .410 barrel is just a simple barrel so I don't have much to say about that.
So that is what I have to say about the Versa Pack so far. Haven't shot it and likely won't for awhile. It probably won't end up living with me unless my son likes it better than his Sportster (and I lean towards him liking the Sportster more - he's a modern kid, likes the synthetic stock .. but we'll see!
But dang, it is a cute little thing.
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=528Maybe I'll keep it for me, and find an adult stock for it, and sell my adult sportster.. I'll keep y'all posted. I still want to find out if a 20 ga NEF barrel will fit on it... I will definitely keep and adultize it if that works! :agree:
Cheers
Kerry :agree: